Giving Birth

Don't worry, this post won't involve any gross descriptions. The title is figurative only.

I've finished both chapter 13 and chapter 14. I'm way past the half-way point of the story. I'd say about roughly 2/3 finished the storyline. The events of the storyline from this point until the end will be fairly fast-paced, so it wouldn't surprise me if I get caught up and write like a maniac until I have a complete manuscript. Nope, wouldn't surprise me at all.

Chapter 14 was a major turning point in the story. Finally getting to this point was like giving birth after being 10 months pregnant. A huge relief to say the least. What's also interesting to me, is I've done enough research at this point that I seriously doubt anymore research will be needed to finish writing the rest of the story. All pieces have been created, it's just a matter of putting it all together now.

Getting past the gooey, indescribable middle (10 months pregnant) part is a job within itself. I've seen numerous aspiring writers describe their woes over how to write that middle bridge to connect the rest of the story. The short, slightly patronizing answer is to just not have a middle bridge.

Easier said than done.

The slightly longer answer that involves more work is practice, practice, practice. That has been the only way to get to the point where the gooey middle part doesn't confound me anymore. With enough practice, at most that middle bridge might give me pause, but it won't stop my writing dead in it's tracks like it would have back in 2002 when I first started writing.

Outlines help, too. I've noticed when I write outlines there isn't a middle bridge because it all flows naturally. So yes, it is true the answer is to just not have a middle bridge. But the long answer is to practice enough until you get to the point that a middle bridge goes unnoticed to the author. It just happens. The story flows from beginning to end. The End.

And now, I need to write the ending, or rather, the 1/3 part of the story...

What do you think of Filler Chapters?

I finished chapter 13, that went rather fast. I'm eager to start chapter 14 which will involve some major action and turn of events. I love it when the potential excitement of story makes me excited.

Chapter 13, as I predicted, is a much needed transitional chapter. I was thinking about transitional and filler chapters in novels. You know, when the author suddenly switches perspective and tells a different story, then eventually goes back to the regularly scheduled program.

It occurred to me, I don't write filler chapters. I thought I did, but just wrote meaningful filler that's there for a very good reason. But then I realized that's not a filler chapter, which are usually nothing more than a distraction, a way to mark the passage of time in order to continue with the main story, though sometimes will involve important content (like American Gods by Neil Gaiman, for example). I've seen filler chapters used shamelessly as a rather cheap trick, which is unfortunate (completely unlike American Gods).

If needed, I'll write transitional chapters, where it's just a slight pause in the main story. Let's stop and think about things for a bit while we wait for everyone to catch up with the story. I find transitional chapters are a rather nice breather and give readers ample opportunity to go as fast or as slow as they want. I personally find it aggravating when an author attempts to decided my own free will for me. Don't need that, don't want it, thank you very much.

I'm curious what others think. How do you feel about Filler Chapters?